title: Evaluation of a self-awareness intervention for adults with type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia unawareness.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective before-and-after study was to determine whether there are psychosocial and physical benefits of a self-awareness intervention for adults with type 1 diabetes and hypoglycemia unawareness (HU). A total of 29 adults participated in the self-awareness intervention of 8 sessions, each lasting 3 hours. Psychosocial (integration, diabetes quality of life) and physical (number of body cues, HU-related events, HbA1c) measures were taken at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months post-intervention. Post-intervention the participants detected more cues of euglycemia and hypoglycemia and experienced significant increases in integration and metabolic control (HbA1c). The number of HU-related events was not decreased and diabetes quality-of-life results were unstable. A self-awareness intervention can have physical and psychosocial benefits and has implications for diabetes education. This intervention needs to be tested in a multi-centre randomized control trial.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. cherih@uwindsor.ca
authors.forename: Cheri Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: N Wilson
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Rodger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D003463:Cues; D003479:Curriculum; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009864:Ontario; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin